Multi-row box connector

Abstract

A multi-row box connector having continuous ground planes formed as part of the connector housing for electrically interconnecting printed circuit boards. The multi-row box connector includes first and second insulative housing members each having thin metallic films deposited on the internal and external sidewalls thereof, respectively, to form the continuous ground planes. The thin metallic films may be deposited on respective housing members by sputtering. The ground planes provide early ground mate as well as EMF shielding and minimization of cross talk between the signal elements of the box connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A multi-row box connector for electrically interconnecting a first printed circuit board to a second printed circuit board, comprising: first housing member means including a plurality of male signal pins arranged in a predetermined number of rows for surface mounting with the first printed circuit board, said plurality of male signal pins mechanically and electrically engaging corresponding signal elements of the first printed circuit board;   ground plane means formed by depositing thin metallic conductive coatings onto internal sidewalls of said first housing member means for providing electrical ground interconnection with the first printed circuit board;   ground pin module means mated in combination with said first housing member means to mechanically and electrically engage said ground plane means of said first housing member means and corresponding ground elements of the first printed circuit board for providing electrical ground interconnection therebetween;   second housing member means including a plurality of female signal contacts arranged in said predetermined number of rows for mounting the second printed circuit board thereto, said plurality of female signal contacts mechanically and electrically engaging corresponding signal elements of the second printed circuit board;   ground plane means formed by depositing thin metallic conductive coatings onto external sidewalls of said second housing member means for providing electrical ground interconnection with the second printed circuit board; and   ground bar means mated in combination with said second housing member means to mechanically and electrically engage said ground plane means of said second housing member means and corresponding ground elements of the second printed circuit board for providing electrical ground interconnection therebetween;   said first and second housing member means in combination forming said multi-row box connector; and wherein   said ground plane means of said first housing member means mechanically and electrically engaging said ground plane means of said second housing member to provide early ground mate for said multi-row box connector.   
     
     
       2. The multi-row box connector of claim 1 wherein said ground plane means of said first housing member means is formed by sputtering a conductive metal onto said internal sidewalls of said first housing member means. 
     
     
       3. The multi-row box connector of claim 1 wherein said ground plane means of said second housing member means is formed by sputtering a conductive metal onto said external sidewalls of said second housing member means. 
     
     
       4. The multi-row box connector of claim 1 wherein said first housing member means includes opposed sidewalls, each sidewall having a plurality of channels and lands alternately formed therein and wherein said plurality of channels and lands have said thin metallic coatings deposited thereon to form in combination said ground plane means of said first housing member means. 
     
     
       5. The multi-row box connector of claim 4 wherein said first housing member means includes a plurality of mating apertures formed coterminously with said plurality of channels and wherein said ground pin module means are disposed in combination with said first housing member means in said plurality of mating apertures to mechanically and electrically engage said ground plane means thereof. 
     
     
       6. The multi-row box connector of claim 5 wherein said ground pin module means comprises a plurality of ground pin modules, each ground pin module including a head configured for insertion in one of said plurality of mating apertures to mechanically and electrically engage said ground plane means of said first housing member means and a plurality of posts configured to mechanically and electrically engage corresponding ground elements of the first printed circuit board. 
     
     
       7. The multi-row box connector of claim 1 wherein said second housing member means includes spaced apart mating channels for mating said ground bar means in combination with said second housing member means. 
     
     
       8. The multi-row box connector of claim 7 wherein said ground bar means includes a first and second grounding bar, each said first and second grounding bar including an extended planar member configured for mating in said spaced apart mating channels, a plurality of resilient fingers for mechanically and electrically engaging corresponding ground elements of the second printed circuit board, and a plurality of solder clips to mechanically and electrically engage said ground plane means of said second housing member means. 
     
     
       9. The multi-row box connector of claim 1 wherein said second housing member means includes a mating channel for edge mounting of the second printed circuit board therewith.